Page:Barbour--Metipoms Hostage.djvu/100

86 able to chew the food and swallow it. No fire was lighted, and, when they had rested for a  half-hour, they went on again. By thrusting his jaw out, David succeeded in having the  gag replaced more loosely, although it still  effectually prevented him from making any  outcry. Across the meadow they went to the river, and there without hesitation they descended into the water and, since the stream  was low, forded without being wet above  their middles. Again they found woodland, and unerringly the elder of the three entered  it and went on at his unfaltering pace. David kept close at his heels. The short halt had rested him, but walking with the hands  tied behind one is difficult, and soon he began to lag. That was the signal for an ungentle prod from the Indian behind him and David increased his pace again. All sorts of plans for escape came to him only to be dismissed as impractical. Had he had the use of his hands, he might have attempted stepping aside and trusting to elude his captors  in the blackness of the forest, but to try that  under the conditions was useless. He would have blundered into trees and doubtless  fallen before he had gone a dozen steps.

From the evenness of the path they trod